MONTEREY >> Administrators with the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District have embarked on a transformation of their middle and high schools that is so radical, they began their presentation of their plans with a video of “Moonshot Thinking.”

Now being popularized by a group of scientific innovators, the idea behind moonshot thinking is that it’s easier to make radical changes than it is to make incremental changes. That is because incremental changes will likely depend on using the same tools and thinking, whereas radical changes imply using different tools, different ideas and different mindsets.

With that in mind, Monterey High School Principal Marci Plummer is proposing to change her school into an International Baccalaureate, a challenging and demanding program that requires authorization and a lengthy application process. The initial application fee is $9,000.

Top administrators in Seaside middle and high schools are proposing to change their schools into “project-based learning” environments, an approach that differs from current teaching models in that teachers are more facilitators than lecturers and students are encouraged to seek answers to problems through working on special projects.

The model being sought by Seaside High School Principal Carlos Moran and Seaside Middle School Principal Manny Nuñez would also require electronic notebooks for every student. Professional development would be provided by New Tech Network, a nonprofit organization specializing in transforming schools.

Students at Central Coast High School, an alternative school for students who struggle in the comprehensive high schools, sometimes have to juggle school with work. A flexible schedule and vocational opportunities would give them the hands-on learning they need, Principal Alan Crawford said.

In the Marina learning community, Los Arboles Middle School Principal Rebecca Tyson said their transformation would involve an “early college and career” model so students can start taking college courses in high school and get hands-on experience in the careers of their choosing.

Administrators and teachers were encouraged to think about “reaching the moon” at an October retreat, where they came up with the ideas presented to the board on Thursday.

The presentation began with a video produced by scientists and innovators now engaged in moonshot thinking, which is how they describe thinking big to solve big problems at a rapid pace.

“People can set their minds to magical, seemingly impossible ideas and then through science and technology bring them to reality,” entrepreneur Astro Teller says in the video played for trustees. “And that then sets other people on fire that other things that look impossible may be accomplishable.”

The school communities will use January and February to engage parents and the community to discuss their ideas in detail. The board is scheduled to received detailed implementation plans on Feb. 9 with a proposed approval meeting scheduled for Feb. 23.

Trustee Jon Hill asked staff to bring a detailed rollout strategy that includes bringing military students into the fold, how the transition would be for teachers and students and how to ensure all students are successful.

Trustee Tim Chaney asked to see a budget and what kind of programs would have to be stopped in order to come up with the money needed to implement new ideas.

“Everything we do is zero based,” he said. “We don’t have the ability to print money like the federal government does.”